Deforestation in the Amazon

Question 1

What proportion of the world’s rainforest does the Amazon Rainforest contain?

Answer 1

60%

Question 1

What percentage of the Amazon Rainforest has been destroyed in the last 50 years?

Answer 1

Over 20%

Question 2

What are the primary threats to the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 2

Cattle ranching, commercial agriculture for biofuels and soybeans, urbanisation, and illegal logging.

Question 3

How does deforestation impact water cycles in the Amazon?

Answer 3

In deforested areas, the proportion of water returned by evapotranspiration decreases from 75% to 25%.

Question 4

How much land is cleared in the Amazon Rainforest every minute?

Answer 4

1 football pitch worth of land

Question 5

What was the extent of land cleared in the Amazon Rainforest in the 1970s?

Answer 5

5 million km2

Question 6

When was the Trans-Amazonian Highway constructed, and what is its length?

Answer 6

Constructed in 1972
Length: 3200km

Question 7

How significant is the Amazon Rainforest in terms of biodiversity and human population?

Answer 7

Biodiversity: Contains 1/10th of all species.

Human Population: Home to 40 million people.